“…a breakneck pace of dramatic intrigue and aural pleasure …a libretto of wickedness, wit and wisdom”“Jake Heggie & Gene Scheer have become an indispensable presence in the contemporary opera world, and their latest premiere,If I Were You, found the duo at the very top of their game.”Opera Today (James Sohre)

If I Were You (2019) is an opera in two acts with a libretto by Gene Scheer, loosely based on the 1947 novel Si j’étais vous… by Julien Green (courtesy of the Estate of Julien Green and Editions Fayard). If I Were You World Premiere at San Francisco’s Merola Opera, 2019.(l-r):Esther Tonea & Cara Collins

Photo Kristen Loken

The opera was commissioned by the Merola Opera Program, a first in its 62-year history of training extraordinary young singers.

In this modern telling of the Faust story, the devil (Brittomara) makes a bargain with a dispirited young writer named Fabian Hart. He is given the supernatural power to move his soul and identity from person to person for as long as he likes; but, if he ever returns to his original body, he will die and the devil will collect his soul. On his precarious journey to win the heart of his beloved, he leaves a trail of human wreckage and hollow shells. In the end, will he choose to live forever as someone else, or die for love as himself?

If I Were You World Premiere at San Francisco’s Merola Opera, 2019.

Photo Kristen LokenClick image for more photos.

The world premiere was August 1-6, 2019 at the Herbst Theater in San Francisco, conducted by Nicole Paiement and directed by Keturah Stickann Doucet. The design team included Liliana Piñeiro (sets), Lucas Krech (lighting), Alina Bokovikova (costumes) and Peter Torpey (projections).